Italian Legend Shines a Spotlight on Barcelona

The 2013 International Film Festival means many in the movie industry will be booking cheap flights to Barcelona this June, but the city is also making silver screen news with a name from Hollywood’s past – the Italian screen goddess Gina Lollobrigida.

Once known as the most beautiful woman in the world, ‘La Lollo’ became a Hollywood legend in the 1950s and 60s. Now 85-years old, she recently made headlines again when she claimed her 51-year old ex-boyfriend, to whom she was briefly engaged in 2006, staged a fake wedding in Barcelona (using a stand-in for the actress) in order to lay claim to her millions.

Lots of Festivals to Enjoy

There really could be no better city for this scenario to be played out in. Barcelona, a city defined by the fantasies of Antoni Gaudi, also plays host to a constant round of international film fests, including Asian, human rights, gay, environmental, documentary and audio-visual film festivals. Another big event on the horizon is ‘Mecal Pro 2013: the International Short Film and Animation Festival’, scheduled for April 4 - 28.

Although many of these events will only be of interest and availability to those in the industry, there are numerous others that any visiting tourist can enjoy, such as the Festival of St Jordi. The Spanish equivalent of Valentine's Day, it takes place on April 23 – a perfect date for a Barcelona wedding, despite La Lollo’s negative experience.

Whether the flight is for business or pleasure, Jet2.com has a range of cheap flights to Barcelona this spring and summer.